WTB: Phono preamp

Clipdat
Clipdat Posts: 12,934
in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
Let me know what you got. Thanks.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited February 2018
    Do you want a good one or just something to get you started?

    My reason for asking isn't necessarily strictly academic. ;)

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Not tube.

    Does that help? :)
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Do you want a good one or just something to get you started?

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    I don't have any spare tube preamps -- well, except that one that doesn't belong to me :blush:
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Vinyl is warm enough already, why add tubes?
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I don't have any spare tube preamps -- well, except that one that doesn't belong to me :blush:

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited February 2018
    heck, even I use a soiled-state phono preamp... but not because of any perceived "tube warmth" thing :)

    5sklv6qzxobp.png



    Sorry, these are topics for other threads. Let me check stock & see if I have a worthy surplus -- I might...

    Someone else should chime in, though -- I guarantee that I don't have anything
     this crowd would consider sexy! :/
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    I'm more a fan of Aural Sex, versus how a piece of gear looks.
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Someone else should chime in, though -- I guarantee that I don't have anything
     this crowd would consider sexy! :/

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    DIP switches ahoy. That thing looks way too complex for my feeble brain.
    DSkip wrote: »
    Jump on the Vista Phono tour. You would be next in line demo it.

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    This is my stylus info:

    Nightclub E Stylus Technical Data

    Output voltage at 1000Hz, 5cm/sec. - 8 mV
    Channel balance at 1kHz - 1,5 dB
    Channel separation at 1kHz - 23 dB
    Channel separation at 15 kHz - 15 dB
    Frequency range at -3dB - 20-22.000 Hz
    Frequency response - 20-20.000 Hz +/- 1,5 dB
    Tracking ability at 315 Hz at recommmende tracking force - 80 μm
    Compliance, dynamic lateral - 7 μm/m N
    Stylus type - Special Elliptical
    Stylus tip radius - r/R 13/25 μm

    Tracking force range - 2,0-5,0 g (20-50 mN)
    Tracking force recommended - 3,0 g (30 mN)
    Tracking angle - 20°
    Internal impedance, DC resistance - 1000 Ohm
    Internal inductance - 580 mH
    Recommended load resistance - 47 kOhm
    Recommended load capacitance - 200-600 pF
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    BTW if these specs suck, don't hesitate to say so.
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  • aprazer402
    aprazer402 Posts: 3,147
    This one, that I own, is most definitely not sexy. It's maker would not even put a brand on it. It looks to be in fine physical condition. I've never had the desire to test it. :) I too have been wanting to upgrade to a separate phono-pre. Extremely large selection available. mhardy mentioned the Shiit's Mani phono-pre, and the Lounge LCR. Others here like the Vincent and Budgie (both w/tubes). There's the Parasound Zphono, Musical Fidelity MX-Vynl, Cambridge 651P, Pro-Ject Phono Box, various NAD models. There's quite a number available under $500.00 to start with.
    9bq198kpztdi.jpg
    rcz9tegcajcb.jpg
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Yeah! There's certainly a lot to choose from.

    I'd like something that's relatively inexpensive, but that doesn't suck. I realize that's a tall order.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    The Art DJpre II gets good reports, as does the Schiit Mani (is that the phono preamp? I think so... too lazy to check).

    I can vouch for Hagerman's Bugle and Bugle 2. Very fine little preamps at reasonable prices (DIY).
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    I don't have one anymore, mine was donated to my son's system. But solid state for a song and a dance that doesn't suck, Project Phono Box comes to mind. Hard to beat IMO.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Thanks for the replies so far. Anyone have anything used that they're looking to sell right now?
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  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    I Have a Bottle Head Seduction I'd sell. cn2iyx8wekt6.jpg


    It even has a nice pair of vintage Amperex orange Globe tubes in it.

    wwh0s9nrc2f3.jpg

    I'm asking $200, Shipped CONUS

    I don't ever see these come up for sale, so I don't know what an accurate value is. Fellow members, if my asking price is High, please let me know. If it's low, please let a potential buyer know! LOL
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Thanks but not looking for a tube based pre.
    trav0810 wrote: »
    I Have a Bottle Head Seduction I'd sell.

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  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    Clipdat wrote: »
    Thanks but not looking for a tube based pre.
    trav0810 wrote: »
    I Have a Bottle Head Seduction I'd sell.

    Ah...yeah, I see that now.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Been doing some reading, and it seems like the 8.0mV output of my cartridge is unusually high for most MM cartridges.

    As a result, I could probably get away with a phono preamp that uses less gain, or that has variable settings. The rationale being that less gain needed = better sound quality.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Is it always on? I don't see a power switch.
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Find one of these, excellent performance for it's price and size. one found it's way here....not leaving any time soon sadly.

    http://www.parasound.com/zphono.php

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Nice. Might have to find something like a small piece of electrical tape to put over the power light.

    AA has them for $200, not bad.
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Yep, plug it in and forget it. It draws so little power that Parasound just doesn't put a switch on it. Mine's been on steady since the day it arrived, no ill has come to it.

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Nice. Might be dim enough then. It's for my bedroom setup so any "standby" LEDs are usually annoying.
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Draws all of 5 watts and...the LED on the one that I have is green and really not blindingly bright.

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  • tratliff
    tratliff Posts: 1,701
    zPhone is great for the price. If you can find one used even better.
    2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables
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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,897
    Vincent PHO-8 or the PHO-7, both big bang for the buck.

    Audio Advisor has them on sale on a regular basis.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    Get on the Vista Phono tour like Skip says and see how you like it. Don't be intimidated by the switches for load and gain, Skip or someone else can walk you thru how to set the switches its super easy once you understand the set-up. See how you like it, as he said you'd be next on the tour. If you find you need to go even more budget than that, or it doesn't trip your trigger for some other reason, I would suggest finding a used Parasound z-phono, (without the USB option) I found one for a buddy for a hundy shipped. Tremendous bang for buck.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    After typing the above, I noticed Kharp1 is selling his Vista Audio at a very attractive price. Read the reviews from the tour, its a real nice unit and his price is very reasonable to say the least, virtually brand new.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    I wonder how the Vista would directly compare to the Zphono and what the differences would be.
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  • Jaybeez
    Jaybeez Posts: 748
    I’m getting ready to sell one of these : http://www.loungeaudio.com/lcr-mr-iii
    2 Channel "Polk" Room:

    Marantz PM8004 Integrated
    Marantz SA8004 SACD Player
    Music Hall mmf 7.3 TT with Ortofon Bronze
    WiiM Mini
    Schiit Bifrost with Multibit Upgrade
    Polk 7B with RDO198s
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Is there a way to turn off the blue light?
    Jaybeez wrote: »
    I’m getting ready to sell one of these : http://www.loungeaudio.com/lcr-mr-iii

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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    The Vista can be dialed in to various cartridges. That’s nice if you change cartridges that have different gain and load. The Parasound zphono is real nice sounding for the money but can’t be adjusted. If you can find a zphono for about a hundred used and plan to use a typical MM cart it’s hard to beat it’s bang for the buck. If you desire the flexibility of multiple load and gain settings for different carts then the Vista is a good choice. I’ve heard them both and they both sound good for the money.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,934
    Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it!

    I inquired with Kerry regarding the Vista, if Dave passes on it.

    Otherwise I will probably order the Zphono. Would like to stay $200 or below if possible.
    dromunds wrote: »
    The Vista can be dialed in to various cartridges. That’s nice if you change cartridges that have different gain and load. The Parasound zphono is real nice sounding for the money but can’t be adjusted. If you can find a zphono for about a hundred used and plan to use a typical MM cart it’s hard to beat it’s bang for the buck. If you desire the flexibility of multiple load and gain settings for different carts then the Vista is a good choice. I’ve heard them both and they both sound good for the money.

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